Medicare-Covered Therapy and Counseling

I like working with a variety of adult populations and one of my favorites are adults 65 and up.  Today, 65 IS the new 55.  Senior citizens are more active than ever and living longer in a healthy manner as well.

Mental wellness is not assured at any age and for the geriatric set, there are unique challenges and opportunities.  Did you know, for example, that over fifteen percent of those of us ages 60 and above will have a mental disorder?

I started out my mental health career with a graduate school training internship in what is called a continuing care retirement community or, CCRC. There are many of them in the Maryland area. CCRC's are often quite pricey, but they do deliver a continuum of living environments that support you as you 'age in place'. People usually move into a CCRC when they are still healthy and independent. The high entrance fees cover you as you age, and if you ever need more intensive levels of care, such as assisted living, memory care or nursing home care.

Then, I spent 2004-2014 living in retirement mecca, close to The Villages, Florida. Those 10 years really broadened my practice experience working with active adults 55 and up. I ran an outpatient program in The Villages that was quite unique. I served men and women from midlife through their 80's in this clinic, which counted as it's clients many fine men and women dealing with the challenges of aging in paradise. In fact, don't buy that hype. People do usually take their problems with them, whether it be depression, substance abuse, caregiver stress, loss of physical faculties, etc.

Part of my time with that program was spent on the inpatient unit of the program's psychiatric hospital, treating adult clients whose needs were often life threatening, due to severe types of mental illness.

I also spent much of those 10 years as an independent, private practitioner providing mental health treatment to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout north and central Florida. I called myself a 'traveling therapist' and I traversed large distances visiting clients who didn't have access to mental health care otherwise.

I even sought out specialized training in pet assisted therapy in Orlando, Florida and incorporated my miniature pinscher Lucy, into my work in Florida, which was a joy to many clients, for many years.

So today, as I've returned to my home town, Baltimore, Maryland, I am building my practice for seniors. I have an office in Towson, Maryland and am available on a limited basis for in home therapy visits in the Parkville, Perry Hall, White Marsh, Rosedale and Nottingham, MD areas.

A lot of adult children reach out to me, seeking care for their mom or dad. As busy workers, they are doing the best they can and are seeking that 'something that's missing' in the care of their aging loved one. Often, for example, kids worry about their widowed mom who recently downsized into apartment living and is experiencing problems in getting used to that lifestyle, after decades of living in their own home.

Or their dad has suddenly (or after a long illness) lost their spouse to cancer or dementia and they are grieving without professional support. It is incredibly difficult for many men - for example - when their wives predecease them.

Either way, in any of these scenarios (and others too), I can help.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Ready to start solving your stress?  Call me 410-967-3848 and we'll set up a free, no obligation phone consult to discuss.  Leave me a message and let me know when is a good time for you to talk in the next few days.

Barb Elgin